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Showing papers on "Shikimate pathway published in 2007"


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, the authors used ATH1 arrays, real-time quantitative (q)RT-PCR analysis of >2000 transcription regulators, robotized assays of enzymes from central metabolism and metabolite profiling.
Abstract: Arabidopsis seedlings were subjected to 2 days of carbon starvation, and then resupplied with 15 mm sucrose The transcriptional and metabolic response was analyzed using ATH1 arrays, real-time quantitative (q)RT-PCR analysis of >2000 transcription regulators, robotized assays of enzymes from central metabolism and metabolite profiling Sucrose led within 30 min to greater than threefold changes of the transcript levels for >100 genes, including 20 transcription regulators, 15 ubiquitin-targeting proteins, four trehalose phosphate synthases, autophagy protein 8e, several glutaredoxins and many genes of unknown function Most of these genes respond to changes of endogenous sugars in Arabidopsis rosettes, making them excellent candidates for upstream components of sugar signaling pathways Some respond during diurnal cycles, consistent with them acting in signaling pathways that balance the supply and utilization of carbon in normal growth conditions By 3 h, transcript levels change for >1700 genes This includes a coordinated induction of genes involved in carbohydrate synthesis, glycolysis, respiration, amino acid and nucleotide synthesis, DNA, RNA and protein synthesis and protein folding, and repression of genes involved in amino acid and lipid catabolism, photosynthesis and chloroplast protein synthesis and folding The changes of transcripts are followed by a delayed activation of central metabolic pathways and growth processes, which use intermediates from these pathways Sucrose and reducing sugars accumulate during the first 3-8 h, and starch for 24 h, showing that there is a delay until carbon utilization for growth recommences Gradual changes of enzyme activities and metabolites are found for many metabolic pathways, including glycolysis, nitrate assimilation, the shikimate pathway and myoinositol, proline and fatty acid metabolism After 3-8 h, there is a decrease of amino acids, followed by a gradual increase of protein

267 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The decreased inhibitory potency observed for glyphosate is a result of these mutation-induced long-range structural changes, and the implications of the findings concerning the development and spread of glyphosate-resistant weeds are discussed.

89 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: It appears likely that the role of the cytosolic DHD/SHD in vivo is different from that of the plastidial enzyme, and the existence of a parallel extra-plastidic shikimate pathway into which dehydroquinate is diverted is proposed.
Abstract: In plants, the shikimate pathway occurs in the plastid and leads to the biosynthesis of aromatic amino acids. The bifunctional 3-dehydroquinate dehydratase/shikimate dehydrogenase (DHD/SHD) catalyses the conversion of dehydroquinate into shikimate. Expression of NtDHD/SHD was suppressed by RNAi in transgenic tobacco plants. Transgenic lines with <40% of wildtype activity displayed severe growth retardation and reduced content of aromatic amino acids and downstream products such as cholorogenic acid and lignin. Dehydroquinate, the substrate of the enzyme, accumulated. However, unexpectedly, so did the product, shikimate. To exclude that this finding is due to developmental differences between wild-type and transgenic plants, the RNAi approach was additionally carried out using a chemically inducible promoter. This approach revealed that the accumulation of shikimate was a direct effect of the reduced activity of NtDHD/SHD with a gradual accumulation of both dehydroquinate and shikimate following induction of gene silencing. As an explanation for these findings the existence of a parallel extra-plastidic shikimate pathway into which dehydroquinate is diverted is proposed. Consistent with this notion was the identification of a second DHD/SHD gene in tobacco (NtDHD/ SHD-2) that lacked a plastidic targeting sequence. Expression of an NtDHD/SHD-2–GFP fusion revealed that the NtDHD/SHD-2 protein is exclusively cytosolic and is capable of shikimate biosynthesis. However, given the fact that this cytosolic shikimate synthesis cannot complement loss of the plastidial pathway it appears likely that the role of the cytosolic DHD/SHD in vivo is different from that of the plastidial enzyme. These data are discussed in the context of current models of plant intermediary metabolism.

85 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: This review has focused on mycobacterial shikimate pathway enzymes as potential targets for the development of new anti-TB agents, including enzyme kinetics and structural data.
Abstract: The aetiological agent of tuberculosis (TB), Mycobacterium tuberculosis, is responsible for millions of deaths annually. The increasing prevalence of the disease, the emergence of multidrug-resistant strains, and the devastating effect of human immunodeficiency virus co-infection have led to an urgent need for the development of new and more efficient antimycobacterial drugs. Since the shikimate pathway is present and essential in algae, higher plants, bacteria, and fungi, but absent from mammals, the gene products of the common pathway might represent attractive targets for the development of new antimycobacterial agents. In this review we describe studies on shikimate pathway enzymes, including enzyme kinetics and structural data. We have focused on mycobacterial shikimate pathway enzymes as potential targets for the development of new anti-TB agents.

79 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, metabolic transcription analysis (MTA) of both L-Phe overproducing and non-engineered strains using real-time PCR was performed, allowing the detection of transcriptional responses to PTS deletion and plasmid presence of genes related to central carbon metabolism.
Abstract: The rational design of L-phenylalanine (L-Phe) overproducing microorganisms has been successfully achieved by combining different genetic strategies such as inactivation of the phosphoenolpyruvate: phosphotransferase transport system (PTS) and overexpression of key genes (DAHP synthase, transketolase and chorismate mutase-prephenate dehydratase), reaching yields of 0.33 (g-Phe/g-Glc), which correspond to 60% of theoretical maximum. Although genetic modifications introduced into the cell for the generation of overproducing organisms are specifically targeted to a particular pathway, these can trigger unexpected transcriptional responses of several genes. In the current work, metabolic transcription analysis (MTA) of both L-Phe overproducing and non-engineered strains using Real-Time PCR was performed, allowing the detection of transcriptional responses to PTS deletion and plasmid presence of genes related to central carbon metabolism. This MTA included 86 genes encoding enzymes of glycolysis, gluconeogenesis, pentoses phosphate, tricarboxylic acid cycle, fermentative and aromatic amino acid pathways. In addition, 30 genes encoding regulatory proteins and transporters for aromatic compounds and carbohydrates were also analyzed. MTA revealed that a set of genes encoding carbohydrate transporters (galP, mglB), gluconeogenic (ppsA, pckA) and fermentative enzymes (ldhA) were significantly induced, while some others were down-regulated such as ppc, pflB, pta and ackA, as a consequence of PTS inactivation. One of the most relevant findings was the coordinated up-regulation of several genes that are exclusively gluconeogenic (fbp, ppsA, pckA, maeB, sfcA, and glyoxylate shunt) in the best PTS- L-Phe overproducing strain (PB12-ev2). Furthermore, it was noticeable that most of the TCA genes showed a strong up-regulation in the presence of multicopy plasmids by an unknown mechanism. A group of genes exhibited transcriptional responses to both PTS inactivation and the presence of plasmids. For instance, acs-ackA, sucABCD, and sdhABCD operons were up-regulated in PB12 (PTS mutant that carries an arcB- mutation). The induction of these operons was further increased by the presence of plasmids in PB12-ev2. Some genes involved in the shikimate and specific aromatic amino acid pathways showed down-regulation in the L-Phe overproducing strains, might cause possible metabolic limitations in the shikimate pathway. The identification of potential rate-limiting steps and the detection of transcriptional responses in overproducing microorganisms may suggest "reverse engineering" strategies for the further improvement of L-Phe production strains.

70 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
Sung-Eun Lee1, Jong-Su Seo1, Young-Soo Keum1, Kwang-Jun Lee, Qing X. Li1 
TL;DR: The up‐regulation of trans‐2‐carboxybenzalpyruvate hydratase suggests that some of fluoranthene metabolites may be further degraded through aromatic dicarboxylic acid pathways.
Abstract: Fluoranthene is a polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) commonly present in PAH-contaminated soils. We studied fluoranthene catabolism and associated proteins in Mycobacterium sp. JS14, a bacterium isolated from a PAH-contaminated soil in Hilo (HI, USA). Fluoranthene degrades in at least three separated pathways via 1-indanone, 2',3'-dihydroxybiphenyl-2,3,-dicarboxylic acid, and naphthalene-1,8-dicarboxylic acid. Part of the diverse catabolism is converged into phthalate catabolism. An increased expression of 25 proteins related to fluoranthene catabolism is found with 1-D PAGE or 2-DE and nano-LC-MS/MS. Detection of fluoranthene catabolism associated proteins coincides well with its multiple degradation pathways that are mapped via metabolites identified. Among the up-regulated proteins, PAH ring-hydroxylating dioxygenase alpha-subunit and beta-subunit and 2,3-dihydroxybiphenyl 1,2-dioxygenase are notably induced. The up-regulation of trans-2-carboxybenzalpyruvate hydratase suggests that some of fluoranthene metabolites may be further degraded through aromatic dicarboxylic acid pathways. Catalase and superoxide dismutase were up-regulated to control unexpected oxidative stress during the fluoranthene catabolism. The up-regulation of chorismate synthase and nicotine-nucleotide phosphorylase may be necessary for sustaining shikimate pathway and pyrimidine biosynthesis, respectively. A fluoranthene degradation pathway for Mycobacterium sp. JS14 was proposed and confirmed by proteomic study by identifying almost all the enzymes required during the initial steps of fluoranthene degradation.

63 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Directed evolution of 2-keto-3-deoxy-6-phosphogalactonate (KDPGal) aldolase for microbial synthesis of shikimate pathway products provides an alternate strategy to circumvent the competition for phosphoenolpyruvate in Escherichia coli.
Abstract: Directed evolution of 2-keto-3-deoxy-6-phosphogalactonate (KDPGal) aldolase for microbial synthesis of shikimate pathway products provides an alternate strategy to circumvent the competition for phosphoenolpyruvate between 3-deoxy-D-arabino-heptulosonic acid 7-phosphate (DAHP) synthase and the phosphoenolpyruvate:carbohydrate phosphotransferase system in Escherichia coli. E. coli KDPGal aldolase was evolved using a combination of error-prone polymerase chain reaction, DNA shuffling, and multiple-site-directed mutagenesis to afford KDPGal aldolase variant NR8.276-2, which exhibits a 60-fold improvement in the ratio kcat/KM relative to that of wild-type E. coli KDPGal aldolase in catalyzing the addition of pyruvate to d-erythrose 4-phosphate to form DAHP. On the basis of its nucleotide sequence, NR8.276-2 contains seven amino acid changes from the wild-type E. coli KDPGal aldolase. Amplified expression of NR8.276-2 in the DAHP synthase and shikimate dehydrogenase-deficient E. coli strain NR7 under fed-batch fermentor-controlled cultivation conditions resulted in synthesis of 13 g/L 3-dehydroshikimic acid in 6.5% molar yield from glucose. Increased coexpression of the irreversible downstream enzyme 3-dehydroquinate synthase increased production of 3-dehydroshikimic acid to 19 g/L in 9.7% molar yield from glucose. Coamplification with transketolase, which increases d-erythrose 4-phosphate availability, afforded 16 g/L 3-dehydroshikimic acid in 8.5% molar yield.

53 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The PCR amplification and cloning of the aroB gene and the overexpression and purification of its product, dehydroquinate synthase, to homogeneity will support the structural studies with M. tuberculosis dehydration synthase that are essential for the rational design of antimycobacterial agents.
Abstract: The recent recrudescence of Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection and the emergence of multidrug-resistant strains have created an urgent need for new therapeutics against tuberculosis. The enzymes of the shikimate pathway are attractive drug targets because this route is absent in mammals and, in M. tuberculosis, it is essential for pathogen viability. This pathway leads to the biosynthesis of aromatic compounds, including aromatic amino acids, and it is found in plants, fungi, bacteria, and apicomplexan parasites. The aroB-encoded enzyme dehydroquinate synthase is the second enzyme of this pathway, and it catalyzes the cyclization of 3-deoxy-D-arabino-heptulosonate-7-phosphate in 3-dehydroquinate. Here we describe the PCR amplification and cloning of the aroB gene and the overexpression and purification of its product, dehydroquinate synthase, to homogeneity. In order to probe where the recombinant dehydroquinate synthase was active, genetic complementation studies were performed. The Escherichia coli AB2847 mutant was used to demonstrate that the plasmid construction was able to repair the mutants, allowing them to grow in minimal medium devoid of aromatic compound supplementation. In addition, homogeneous recombinant M. tuberculosis dehydroquinate synthase was active in the absence of other enzymes, showing that it is homomeric. These results will support the structural studies with M. tuberculosis dehydroquinate synthase that are essential for the rational design of antimycobacterial agents.

51 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: This review presents the main biochemical features of CS from bacterial and fungal sources and their difference from the apicomplexan CS, representing an important target for the chemotherapeutic agents development.
Abstract: The increase in incidence of infectious diseases worldwide, particularly in developing countries, is worrying. Each year, 14 million people are killed by infectious diseases, mainly HIV/AIDS, respiratory infections, malaria and tuberculosis. Despite the great burden in the poor countries, drug discovery to treat tropical diseases has come to a standstill. There is no interest by the pharmaceutical industry in drug development against the major diseases of the poor countries, since the financial return cannot be guaranteed. This has created an urgent need for new therapeutics to neglected diseases. A possible approach has been the exploitation of the inhibition of unique targets, vital to the pathogen such as the shikimate pathway enzymes, which are present in bacteria, fungi and apicomplexan parasites but are absent in mammals. The chorismate synthase (CS) catalyses the seventh step in this pathway, the conversion of 5- enolpyruvylshikimate-3-phosphate to chorismate. The strict requirement for a reduced flavin mononucleotide and the anti 1,4 elimination are both unusual aspects which make CS reaction unique among flavin-dependent enzymes, representing an important target for the chemotherapeutic agents development. In this review we present the main biochemical features of CS from bacterial and fungal sources and their difference from the apicomplexan CS. The CS mechanisms proposed are discussed and compared with structural data. The CS structures of some organisms are compared and their distinct features analyzed. Some known CS inhibitors are presented and the main characteristics are discussed. The structural and kinetics data reviewed here can be useful for the design of inhibitors.

47 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The elucidation of interactions between MtSK and their substrates is crucial for the development of a new generation of drugs against tuberculosis through rational drug design.
Abstract: Tuberculosis (TB) remains the leading cause of mortality due to a bacterial pathogen, Mycobacterium tuberculosis. However, no new classes of drugs for TB have been developed in the past 30 years. Therefore there is an urgent need to develop faster acting and effective new antitubercular agents, preferably belonging to new structural classes, to better combat TB, including MDR-TB, to shorten the duration of current treatment to improve patient compliance, and to provide effective treatment of latent tuberculosis infection. The enzymes in the shikimate pathway are potential targets for development of a new generation of antitubercular drugs. The shikimate pathway has been shown by disruption of aroK gene to be essential for the Mycobacterium tuberculosis. The shikimate kinase (SK) catalyses the phosphorylation of the 3-hydroxyl group of shikimic acid (shikimate) using ATP as a co-substrate. SK belongs to family of nucleoside monophosphate (NMP) kinases. The enzyme is an alpha/beta protein consisting of a central sheet of five parallel beta-strands flanked by alpha-helices. The shikimate kinases are composed of three domains: Core domain, Lid domain and Shikimate-binding domain. The Lid and Shikimate-binding domains are responsible for large conformational changes during catalysis. More recently, the precise interactions between SK and substrate have been elucidated, showing the binding of shikimate with three charged residues conserved among the SK sequences. The elucidation of interactions between MtSK and their substrates is crucial for the development of a new generation of drugs against tuberculosis through rational drug design.

45 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper, the effects of glyphosate exposure on rapeseed ( Brassica napus L.) seedlings were examined in order to evaluate the possibilities of using a response pattern in plants as a measure of exposure to glyphosate through the growth media, more sensitive than the well-known biomarker shikimate.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The conformational changes that occur on binding of shikimate, magnesium and chloride ions to SK from Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MtSK) are described and could be useful for understanding the catalytic mechanism of SK and the role of ions in the activity of this protein.
Abstract: Bacteria, fungi and plants can convert carbohydrate and phosphoenolpyruvate into chorismate, which is the precursor of various aromatic compounds. The seven enzymes of the shikimate pathway are responsible for this conversion. Shikimate kinase (SK) is the fifth enzyme in this pathway and converts shikimate to shikimate-3-phosphate. In this work, the conformational changes that occur on binding of shikimate, magnesium and chloride ions to SK from Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MtSK) are described. It was observed that both ions and shikimate influence the conformation of residues of the active site of MtSK. Magnesium influences the conformation of the shikimate hydroxyl groups and the position of the side chains of some of the residues of the active site. Chloride seems to influence the affinity of ADP and its position in the active site and the opening length of the LID domain. Shikimate binding causes a closing of the LID domain and also seems to influence the crystallographic packing of SK. The results shown here could be useful for understanding the catalytic mechanism of SK and the role of ions in the activity of this protein.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Overexpression of main metabolic enzymes from the aromatic amino acid biosynthetic pathway play the important role in increasing the production of phenylalanine, tyrosine and tryptophan in the E. coli mutant.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Two small molecular inhibitors against Helicobacter pylori SK were successfully identified with IC(50) values of 5.5+/-1.2 and 6.4+/-0.4 microM, respectively, and it is expected that the current work might supply useful information for the development of novel SK inhibitors.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: It is found that class I EPSPS are up to 400 times less sensitive to inhibition by these TI analogues, and the rational design of novel EPSPS inhibitors with potential as broad-spectrum antibiotics should be based on the active site structures of class II EPSP synthases.
Abstract: The shikimate pathway enzyme 5-enolpyruvylshikimate-3-phosphate synthase (EPSP synthase or EPSPS) is best known as the target of the herbicide glyphosate. EPSPS is also considered an attractive target for the development of novel antibiotics since the pathogenicity of many microorganisms depends on the functionality of the shikimate pathway. Here, we have investigated the inhibitory potency of stable fluorinated or phosphonate-based analogues of the tetrahedral reaction intermediate (TI) in a parallel study utilizing class I (glyphosate-sensitive) and class II (glyphosate-tolerant) EPSPS. The (R)-difluoromethyl and (R)-phosphonate analogues of the TI are the most potent inhibitors of EPSPS described to date. However, we found that class II EPSPS are up to 400 times less sensitive to inhibition by these TI analogues. X-ray crystallographic data revealed that the conformational changes of active site residues observed upon inhibitor binding to the representative class I EPSPS from Escherichia coli do not occur in the prototypical class II enzyme from Agrobacterium sp. strain CP4. It appears that because the active sites of class II EPSPS do not possess the flexibility to accommodate these TI analogues, the analogues themselves undergo conformational changes, resulting in less favorable inhibitory properties. Since pathogenic microorganisms such as Staphylococcus aureus utilize class II EPSPS, we conclude that the rational design of novel EPSPS inhibitors with potential as broad-spectrum antibiotics should be based on the active site structures of class II EPSP synthases.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The crystal structures of the ternary complex TtAroE:NADP(H):shikimate allows unambiguous visualization of the SDH permitting elucidation of the roles of conserved residues Lys64 and Asp100 in the hydride ion transfer between NADP( H) and shikimate.

Journal ArticleDOI
24 Aug 2007-Proteins
TL;DR: It is suggested that phosphate elimination proceeds through syn‐elimination assisted by Glu 243 and the aldol condensation proceeds via a boat conformation, particularly in terms of the structure at the active site and the reaction mechanism.
Abstract: A key enzyme in the biosynthesis of clinically important aminoglycoside antibiotics is 2-deoxy-scyllo-inosose synthase (DOIS), which catalyzes carbocycle formation from D-glucose-6-phosphate to 2-deoxy-scyllo-inosose through a multistep reaction. This reaction mechanism is similar to the catalysis by dehydroquinate synthase (DHQS) of the cyclization of 3-deoxy-D-arabino-heputulosonate-7-phosphate to dehydroquinate in the shikimate pathway, but significant dissimilarity between these enzymes is also known, particularly in the stereochemistry of the phosphate elimination reaction and the cyclization. Here, the crystal structures of DOIS from Bacillus circulans and its complex with the substrate analog inhibitor carbaglucose-6-phosphate, NAD+, and Co2+ have been determined to provide structural insights into the reaction mechanism. The complex structure shows that an active site exists between the N-terminal and C-terminal domains and that the inhibitor coordinates a cobalt ion in this site. Two subunits exist as a dimer in the asymmetric unit. The two active sites of the dimer were observed to be different. One contains a dephosphorylated compound derived from the inhibitor and the other includes the inhibitor without change. The present study suggested that phosphate elimination proceeds through syn-elimination assisted by Glu 243 and the aldol condensation proceeds via a boat conformation. Also discussed are significant similarities and dissimilarities between DOIS and DHQS, particularly in terms of the structure at the active site and the reaction mechanism.

Journal Article
Yi Yi1, Dairong Qiao, Linhan Bai, Hui Xu, Ya Li, Xiaolin Wang, Yi Cao 
TL;DR: In this study, the Dunaliella salina EPSP synthase gene was cloned by RT-PCR approach and the derived amino acid sequence showed high homology with other EPS P synthases.
Abstract: 5-enolpyruvylshikimate-3-phosphate synthase (EPSP synthase, EC 2.5.1.19) is the sixth enzyme in the shikimate pathway which is essential for the synthesis of aromatic amino acids and many secondary metabolites. The enzyme is widely involved in glyphosate tolerant transgenic plants because it is the primary target of the nonselective herbicide glyphosate. In this study, the Dunaliella salina EPSP synthase gene was cloned by RT-PCR approach. It contains an open reading frame encoding a protein of 514 amino acids with a calculated molecular weight of 54.6 KDa. The derived amino acid sequence showed high homology with other EPSP synthases. The Dunaliella salina EPSP synthase gene was expressed in Escherichia coli and the recombinant EPSP synthase were identified by functional complementation assay.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: This glutamate residue is completely conserved in all DOI synthases identified so far and the corresponding amino acid of DHQ synthase iscompletely conserved as asparagine, therefore, this characteristic glutamate residue of DOI synth enzyme is a key determinant to distinguish the reaction mechanism between DOI synthase and DH Q synthase as well as primary sequence.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, the authors reported the Arabidopsis thaliana DHQ-SDH structure in complex with all of its natural substrates, including nicotinamide C4 and Asp 423 residues proximal to the C3-hydroxyl of shikimate.
Abstract: Plants encode the bifunctional dehydroquinase-shikimate dehydrogenase (DHQ-SDH), which catalyzes the third and fourth steps of the shikimate pathway. We report the Arabidopsis thaliana DHQ-SDH structure in complex with all of its natural substrates. The DHQ-SDH enzyme was first cocrystallized with shikimate. NADP+ was subsequently added to the crystals yielding the SDH ternary complex. The Pro-R hydrogen of the nicotinamide C4 is 3.35 A from the C3 of shikimate, the site of hydride transfer. The catalytic Lys 385 and Asp 423 residues are proximal to the C3-hydroxyl of shikimate, which is deprotonated in the oxidation reaction. The SDH-shikimate-NADP(H) complex represents the active complex as the oxidation of shikimate was evidenced by the generation of the product (dehydroshikimate) found in the DHQ site. DHQ-SDH adopts a concave architecture that places the active sites in a face-to-face arrangement. This proximal organization serves to increase the local effective concentration of dehydroshikimate, and...

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The prediction of Mycobacterium tuberculosis CS three-dimensional structure and the geometric docking of the coenzyme FMN and the substrate EPSP were performed using the crystal structure of CS from Streptococcus pneumoniae as template, showing that most of the template interactions are preserved in the MTB structure.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Kinetic and chemical mechanisms for MtbSD are proposed on the basis of experimental data and multiple isotope effect studies indicate that both hydride and proton transfers are concerted.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: It is demonstrated that a monofunctional chorismate synthase confers prototrophy in conjunction with a NADPH: FMN oxidoreductase indicating that bifunctionality is required due to the lack of free reduced FMN in fungal and possibly protozoan species.
Abstract: Summary The shikimate pathway is essential for the biosynthe- sis of aromatic compounds. The seventh and last step is catalysed by chorismate synthase, which has an absolute requirement for reduced FMN in its active site. There are two classes of this enzyme, which are distinguished according to the origin of the reduced cofactor. Monofunctional chorismate synthases se- quester it from the cellular environment whereas bifunctional enzymes can generate reduced FMN at the expense of NADPH. These bifunctional enzymes are found in fungi and the ciliated protozoan Euglena gracilis while all bacterial and plant enzymes are monofunctional. In this study, we introduce an in vivo screen, which is based on a chorismate synthase- deficient Saccharomyces cerevisiae strain, allowing the classification of hitherto uncharacterized choris- mate synthases. This analysis revealed that bifunc- tionality is present in the enzymes of protozoan species. In contrast, all bacterial and plant enzymes tested are monofunctional. In addition, we demon- strate that a monofunctional chorismate synthase confers prototrophy in conjunction with a NADPH : FMN oxidoreductase indicating that bifunctionality is required due to the lack of free reduced FMN in fungal and possibly protozoan species. Interestingly, the distribution of bifunctional chorismate synthase concurs with the presence of a pentafunctional enzyme complex.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The data provide the first experimental evidence that the carboxylate group of aspartate 367 participates in the deprotonation of N(5) of the reduced flavin cofactor, which in turn abstracts the C(6proR) hydrogen yielding chorismate as the product.
Abstract: Chorismate synthase catalyzes the anti-1,4-elimination of the 3-phosphate and the C(6proR) hydrogen from 5-enolpyruvylshikimate 3-phosphate (EPSP) to generate chorismate, the final product of the common shikimate pathway and a precursor for the biosynthesis of aromatic compounds. The enzyme has an absolute requirement for reduced FMN, which is thought to facilitate cleavage of C _ O bonds by transiently donating an electron to the substrate. The crystal structure of the enzyme revealed that EPSP is bound near the flavin isoalloxazine ring with several invariant amino acid residues in contact with the substrate and/or cofactor. Here, we report the results of a mutagenesis study in which an invariant aspartate residue at position 367 of the Neurospora crassa chorismate synthase was replaced with alanine and asparagine. Both single mutant proteins (Asp367Ala and Asp367Asn) were comparable to the wild-type enzyme with respect to substrate and cofactor binding, indicating that Asp367 is not required for binding of either the flavin or the substrate. In sharp contrast to these results, the activity of both single mutant proteins was found to be 620 and 310 times lower for the Asp367Ala and Asp367Asn mutant proteins, repectively. This finding provides strong evidence that the carboxylate group of Asp367 plays a major role during the catalytic reaction. On the basis of the structure of the enzyme, our data provide the first experimental evidence that the carboxylate group of aspartate 367 participates in the deprotonation of N(5) of the reduced flavin cofactor, which in turn abstracts the C(6proR) hydrogen yielding chorismate as the product.

Journal Article
TL;DR: The studies on the genetic improvement of the strains for CoQ10 production with the aid of molecular biological methods focused on four aspects: amplification of 1-deoxy-D-xyluose 5-phosphate synthase and chorismate pyruvate-lyase level increases CoQ 10 production, cloning and expression of decaprenyl diphosphate synthesis gene, and construction and introduction of multigene expression cassettes.
Abstract: The pathway for CoQ biosynthesis in microorganisms is a complex metabolic net.It is a conjunction of the following anabolic subnets:the biosynthetic pathways of shikimate,methionine(aspartate family),S-adenosylmethionine,isopentenyl diphosphate(IPP) and polyprenyl diphosphate(PPP) and the pathway for ring modification of ubiquinone.While bacteria derive the 4-hydroxybenzoate as the quinoid nucleus of the ubiquinone from the shikimate pathway and biosynthesize IPP from 2-C-Methyl-D-erythritol 4-phosphate pathway,eukaryotic microorganisms derive the 4-hydroxybenzoate or tyrosine as the quinoid nucleus of the ubiquinone from the shikimate pathway and biosynthesize IPP from the mevalonate pathway.CoQ10 has been used not only as a medicine but also as a food supplement because of its various physiological and biochemical activities(e.g.as an electron transporter in the respiratory chains of prokaryotes and eukaryotes and as an effective intracellular antioxidant,redox control of cell signaling and gene expression).Fermentation by microbes is the most effective way for CoQ10 production.The studies on the genetic improvement of the strains for CoQ10 production with the aid of molecular biological methods focused on four aspects:(1)Amplification of 1-deoxy-D-xyluose 5-phosphate synthase and chorismate pyruvate-lyase level increases CoQ10 production;(2)Cloning and expression of decaprenyl diphosphate synthase gene for production of CoQ10;(3)Cloning and expression of 4-hydroxybenzoate polyprenyltransferase gene for production of CoQ10;(4)Construction and introduction of multigene expression cassettes for production of CoQ10.